I treat insomnia and other sleep disturbances in my practice. The suggestion to keep a regular sleep/wake cycle is a good one -- though easier in theory than practice. Also, the suggestion to get up if you've tried to fall asleep and can't. Here is a sleep hygiene handout that I give my clients. Not all of this will apply to you, but it won't hurt to keep it in mind. There is also a specific behavioral treatment protocol for insomnia, but it goes way beyond what I can post in a forum.
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Sleep Hygiene Instructions
1. Sleep only as much as you need to feel refreshed during the following day.
Restricting your time in bed helps consolidate and deepen your sleep. Excessively long times in bed lead to fragmented and shallow sleep. Get up at your regular time the next day, no matter how little you slept.
2. Get up at the same time each day, 7 days a week.
A regular wake time in the morning leads to regular times of sleep onset and helps to set your “biological clock.”
3. Exercise regularly.
Schedule exercise times so that they do not occur within 3 hours of when you intend to go to bed. Exercise makes it easier to initiate sleep and deepen sleep.
4. Make sure your bedroom is comfortable and free from light and noise.
Excessively warm or cold sleep environments may disturb sleep.
5. Eat regularly and do not go to bed hungry.
Hunger may disturb sleep. A light snack at bedtime (especially carbohydrates) may help sleep, but avoid greasy or “heavy” foods.
6. Avoid excessive liquids in the evening.
Reducing fluid intake will minimize the need for nighttime trips to the bathroom.
7. Cut down on all caffeine products.
Caffeinated beverages and foods (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate) can cause difficulty falling asleep, awakenings during the night, and shallow sleep. Even caffeine early in the day can disrupt nighttime sleep.
8. Avoid alcohol, especially in the evening.
Although alcohol helps tense people fall asleep more easily, it causes awakenings later in the night.
9. Smoking may disturb sleep.
Nicotine is a stimulant. Try not to smoke during the night when you have trouble sleeping.
10. Don’t take your problems to bed.
Plan some time earlier in the evening for working on your problems or for planning the next day’s activities. Worrying may interfere with initiating sleep and produce shallow sleep.
11. Do not try to fall asleep.
This only makes the problem worse. Instead, turn on the light, leave the bedroom, and do something different, like reading a book. Don’t engage in stimulating activity. Return to bed only when you are sleepy.
12. Put the clock under the bed or turn it so that you can’t see it.
Clock watching may lead to frustration, anger, and worry which interfere with sleep.
13. Avoid naps.
Staying awake during the day helps you to fall asleep at night.
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